Padres' Luebke might need elbow surgery

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Cory Luebke throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 16, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

/ AP

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Cory Luebke throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 16, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Cory Luebke throws to the plate against the Colorado Rockies during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, April 16, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey) (/ AP)

Left-hander Cory Luebke, who Padres manager Bud Black believes was developing into one of the top left-handers in the National League, could be facing elbow reconstruction surgery.

Apparently, an MRI exam conducted Wednesday showed damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in Luebke’s elbow as well damage to the flexor tendon and fluid in the elbow.

The 27-year-old pitcher was conferring with Padres team physicians and officials before Friday night’s game to plot a course of action. Two sources confirmed that elbow reconstruction surgery is a possibility and wasbeing discussed with Luebke.

When asked about his elbow earlier in the afternoon, Luebke said it “isn’t coming along as expected” and said team officials might be in a better position to discuss the possibilities.

Luebke said he was planning to get a second opinion over the next couple and days and was waiting for other experts to look at his MRI. When asked if “Tommy John surgery” was a possibility, Luebke nodded in the affirmative and said that question might be better addressed by Padres manager Bud Black and other Padres officials.

“I don’t know what is going on,” said Luebke. “I’ve never even had had a sore arm.”

Luebke declined comment after the game.

During Tommy John surgery the UCL is replaced by a ligament from another part of the body – usually the opposite forearm or leg. Rehabbing from the surgery usually takes a full year.

Luebke is one of the blocks upon which the Padres were building their future. During spring training they signed him to a contract extension that committed Luebke to the Padres through the end of the 2017 season. Luebke is guaranteed at least $12 million with the total value possibly $27.25 million if the Padres picked up club options for 2016 and 2017.

Luebke was 3-1 this season with a 2.61 earned run average in 31 innings covering five starts. He had allowed 28 hits and eight walks while striking out 23. Over his last four starts, Luebke was 3-0 with a 1.38 ERA. The Padres were 4-0 in those starts.

Twice Luebke was the pitcher of record when the Padres halted a four-game losing streak. He started four of the Padres first seven wins.

Luebke was placed on the disabled list Wednesday due to “elbow tightness and soreness.” He said he felt something in his first start of the season against the Dodgers and again last Friday night while facing the Giants in San Francisco.

Asked about Luebke before Friday night’s game, Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said: “Cory is going to talk to Dr. (Heinz) Hoenecke and Hutch (Padres’ trainer Todd Hutcheson) and compare notes. I don’t want to speculate on a best or worst case scenario.

“Surgery in general is always the last resort.”

Padres manager Bud Black said “this one I’m being cautious about” when asked about Luebke’s elbow. He said Luebke would not be playing catch “for a number of days.”

But two Padres sources confirmed that elbow reconstruction surgery had been discussed regarding Luebke.

Luebke is one of eight Padres currently on the disabled list, including three-fifths of the projected starting rotation. Right-hander Dustin Moseley has already been lost to season-ending shoulder surgery after just one start. Right-handed starter Tim Stauffer (elbow strain) made his second rehab start with Triple-A Tucson Friday night.

Also rehabbing in Tucson is left fielder Carlos Quentin, who has yet to play after having right knee surgery March 19. He was signed last winter to be the Padres cleanup hitter.

Also on the disabled list are outfielders Kyle Blanks (out for the season following shoulder surgery) and Jeremy Hermida, right-handed relief pitcher Micah Owings and infielder Logan Forsythe, who has just started playing following March 9 surgery to remove the fractured sesamoid bone from his left foot. Forsythe played shortstop in a simulated game at the Padres spring training base Thursday.

Outfielder Mark Kotsay opened the season on the disabled list by returned to action on April 16.